Jaisalmer, July 31, 2026: A young Indian Army Major lost his life and two Lieutenant-rank officers sustained serious injuries in a tragic late-night road accident near the Jaisalmer Military Station in Rajasthan when their private SUV collided with a camel and overturned multiple times.
The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. on Friday (late Thursday night into early Friday), approximately six kilometres from Jaisalmer city near the War Museum in the Thaiyat Army area. Major Hamza Arif (30), a resident of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, was driving the vehicle when the accident took place. He had got married barely a month ago.
According to official accounts, the three officers were returning to the Jaisalmer Military Station from the city in a black Tata Safari SUV (registration GJ39CC1403) when a camel suddenly appeared on the road. With little time to react, the vehicle struck the animal, lost control, overturned four to five times, and skidded nearly 100 metres before coming to a halt near the Army boundary wall. The camel died on the spot due to the high-impact collision.
Army personnel and officers rushed to the scene after receiving information about the crash. They rescued the three officers trapped inside the mangled vehicle and immediately evacuated them to the Military Hospital at the Jaisalmer Military Station (Thaiyat). Major Hamza Arif succumbed to his injuries during treatment. His body was later shifted to the mortuary at Jawahar Hospital in Jaisalmer for post-mortem examination.
The two injured officers have been identified as Lieutenant Abhinav Rathore and Lieutenant Ayushman Gusain. Both sustained serious injuries and remain under treatment at the Military Hospital. Their precise medical condition has not been officially disclosed by authorities.
Investigation underway
Local police and Military Police have initiated a joint investigation into the circumstances of the accident. ASI Jagdish Charan of Sadar Police Station stated that police received information late at night about a vehicle overturning after colliding with a camel on the road ahead of the War Museum. Preliminary findings indicate that the sudden appearance of the camel on the road caused the driver to lose control, resulting in the fatal crash. Officials are examining factors including the unlit stretch of road and how the camel entered the path of the vehicle.
Lt Col Nikhil Dhawan, PRO Defence, Rajasthan, indicated that detailed information would be shared once official details were fully available.
Atmosphere at the station
The tragedy has cast a deep pall of gloom over the Jaisalmer Military Station, where the officers were posted. Fellow soldiers and officers expressed shock and grief over the sudden loss of a young Major who had only recently started a new chapter in his personal life.
The accident site is the same stretch of road near the War Museum and Thaiyat area that has witnessed previous road tragedies, including a major bus fire incident in October 2025.
Background on the deceased officer
Major Hamza Arif, 30, belonged to Indore, Madhya Pradesh. He was married only about a month before the accident. Limited additional personal or unit details have been released so far, which is common in the immediate aftermath of such incidents pending formal communication from the Army and the family.
Authorities continue to monitor the condition of the two injured Lieutenants. Further updates are expected as the investigation progresses and official statements are issued by the Indian Army and local police.
The incident once again highlights the risks of sudden animal crossings on desert highways and roads near military stations in Rajasthan, particularly during night hours when visibility is limited.
